Circular Economy with Benefits: Three Questions for Christoph Meyer
By Hendrik Durst I 4 minute read
22/07/2026
In the latest episode of the DACHSER podcast “Network Talk”, Christoph Meyer, Project Manager at DACHSER, and Levi Muwanah, co-founder of Trash4Cash, speak about the development of a business idea that has grown into a professionally managed social enterprise within just a few years. Originating from an exchange program between young people from Germany and Zambia, Trash4Cash has evolved into a recycling organization in Livingstone that is building local recycling value chains, thereby creating additional income opportunities for residents. During the exchange program, Christoph Meyer had the opportunity to experience Trash4Cash first-hand. We spoke with him about the factors behind the organization’s success and the insights he gained on the ground.
From your perspective, what makes Trash4Cash such a remarkable success story?
Christoph Meyer: What impresses me most is that Trash4Cash has developed into a genuine social enterprise. The organization has established a functioning value chain for recyclable materials, combining environmental objectives with economic opportunities for local communities. People collect recyclable waste, receive money in return, and help feed valuable materials back into the recycling cycle. This creates multiple positive effects at once: reducing environmental pollution, generating additional income opportunities, and strengthening local communities.
What is particularly remarkable is the organization’s evolution. What started as a local initiative from local youth has developed into a registered company with its own infrastructure. Today, Trash4Cash operates its own recycling hub in Livingstone and works closely with local authorities and international partners like UNIDO – an approach that addresses ecological and societal challenges equally.
Particularly impressive was the determination of the team. Even under challenging conditions, such as severe restrictions in electricity supply, they consistently found ways to keep operations running and continue developing the organization.
Which experiences during your time in Zambia had the greatest impact on you?
C. Meyer: My time on site showed me that sustainability goes far beyond environmental and climate protection alone. Effective solutions need to combine environmental, social, and economic aspects while creating a lasting impact. That is exactly what Trash4Cash achieves. The organization contributes to a cleaner city and communities while creating new income and development opportunities for local people.
Particularly impressive was the determination of the team. Even under challenging conditions, such as severe restrictions in electricity supply, they consistently found ways to keep operations running and continue developing the organization. Education also plays an important role. Schools, universities, and youth groups are engaged in discussions about recycling, resource conservation, and environmental responsibility. As a result, the impact of Trash4Cash extends far beyond the collection and processing of recyclable materials.
You can listen to the full interview with Christoph Meyer in the eighth episode of our English-language podcast, Network Talk.
For me, the real strength of Trash4Cash lies in the way it combines environmental responsibility, economic development, and social commitment
What role does DACHSER play in the development of initiatives such as Trash4Cash?
C. Meyer: The origins of Trash4Cash lie in an international exchange program between young people from Zambia and young professionals from DACHSER, during which solutions to real societal challenges were developed together. From this initial impulse, an organization emerged within DACHSER’s Corporate Citizen+ portfolio that is now operating independently and continues to grow.
DACHSER continues to support this development by helping raise awareness of the project and its achievements. At the same time, Trash4Cash has ambitious plans for the future. The team aims to expand its activities into additional regions and carry out further processing steps locally. This would create even more local value creation, jobs, and recycling capacity within the region.
For me, the real strength of Trash4Cash lies in the way it combines environmental responsibility, economic development, and social commitment. Even today, I remain impressed by the potential that can be unlocked when committed individuals, local partners, and companies work together over the long term.
To learn more about Trash4Cash, listen to the latest episode of “Network Talk” featuring Christoph Meyer and Levi Muwanah. The full episode is available here and on all major podcast platforms.
